| ||||
Summertime in the BelgradesContents
for Printing Article Summaries |
Castle Island: Traditions of Fishing and Friendliness
"Welcome home!" The greeting is sincere, direct, just the type of reception weary out-of-state travelers love to hear as they gaze around the collection of cozy cabins nestled, literally, on the sparkling waters of Long Pond. Castle Island Camps' owner John Rice is the greeter. He's busy conducting a tour of the facility, overseeing pre-season groundswork, and preparing the kitchen for the hardy three meals a day, which he cooks, as part of the camp plan. But always he has time to be the thoughtful host. It's a family tradition dating to 1929.
Opened and run by Leighton Castle from 1929 to 1947, Castle Island Camps had five cabins, the road was dirt, the rate a dollar a day (meals included). Today the cabins number twelve, the road is paved, the rate $85, the guests are on the fourth generation — and so are the owners. Leighton sold Castle Island to his nephew, George Weis and his wife Doris, who operated it until 1970 when Leighton's youngest son, Horatio, bought it. In 2002, Horatio and his wife Valerie sold Castle Island to John and his wife, Rhonda, George's granddaughter. Since then a lot of docks have been added, John points out. "Everyone likes to bring their own boats." The business now sells live bait. And, six of the cabins have been renovated. As for the fishing, it's great. "Catch and release has turned fishing around," states John, explaining the fish are so much bigger than when the lake was over-fished. Of course the northern pike, especially the whoppers that don't get away, are good for business, too.
What about business this summer? It's looking good, John says. "Most fishermen are coming no matter what," he states. The fishing is one reason, and a good one, but the families and retired guests are coming, too. That's where the friendliness enters in For more information, visit the Castle Island Camps website, email castleisland@gwi.net, or call (207) | |||
